Dry mops



S. N. BROWN July 2 7, 1965 DRY MOPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18,19ss INVENTOR SALLY N. BROWN July 27, 1965 I s. N. BROWN 3, 7

DRY MOPS Filed Sept. 18, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR SA LLY N. BROWNBY MSW ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,196,475 Patented July 27,1965 3,196,475 DRY MOPS Sally N. Brown, 1025 th Ave, New York, NY. FiledSept. 18, 1963, Feet. No. 309,633 6 Claims. (Cl. 228) This inventionrelates to improved cleaning mops of the type known as dry mops forfloors, walls and ceilmgs.

The various embodiments of the inventive concept have particularadvantage for maintaining vinyl and other tile flooring between washingsand/ or waxings.

Cleaning mops having designs too numerous to catalogue have been in usefrom the very beginning of recorded history. Presently for our type ofhousehold civilization, the one mop design which has received largescale general acceptance is the type having a large plurality of fabricstrings attached to the underside of a mop head, the latter beingpivotally connected to a handle. The theory of operation of such a mophead is that the strings pick up dirt and dust from the floor when adusting motion is applied to the mop head and the picked up dirt anddust can be released by shaking the mop head out of a window. Actually,such a mop head moves around and spreads as much dirt and dust as itpicks up so as to merely give a false clean appearance. In any case, thestrings become dirty since they can never release all of the dirt anddust which they manage to pick up and the storage of such a mop isunpleasant to both sight and smell. Furthermore, and very important, itis generally illegal today to shake mops out of windows in populatedareas.

Admittedly, patent offices throughout the world have been deluged,particularly in the last 50 years, with new mop designs to replace theaccepted string type mop with other mops having removable and able to belaundered fabric covers. However, none of such new designs have receivedlarge scale acceptance because of the disadvantages inherent in suchdesigns with the result that general usage of string type mops stillprevails.

Broadly speaking, it, is an object of this invention to provide animproved cleaning mop for general large scale acceptance which will nothave the disadvantages of the prior art designs, including the stringtype mop.

According to the invention there is provided a mop head comprising aframe member; a handle connector pivotally connected to the framemember; a substantially rectangular body member supported upon the framemember and having a resilient cushion bottom surface; and a softenveloping mop cap member disposed over said body member; said mop capmember being longer along its side edges than said body member, closedalong its two side edges and its front edge, and open along its rearedge to permit said mop cap member to be positioned upon and removedfrom said body member; said mop cap member having a longitudinal slitalong its top surface extending from its rear edge, the edges of saidslit enveloping said handle connector.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be set forth orapparent in the following description and claims and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, which disclose by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in a limited number of embodiments, the principle of theinvention and structural implementations of the inventive concept.

In the drawings, in which like reference numbers designate likecomponents in the several views:

FIG. 1 is a plan view, partly in cross section, of one embodiment of amop head according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, partly in cross section, of the mop headshown in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom and rear end perspective view, partly in crosssection, showing another embodiment of the mop head employing aplurality of mop caps according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is an elevation view of the bottom of the mop head of FIG. 4 in avertical storage position showing the exterior mop cap folded uponitself so that the dirty bottom surface of the exterior mop cap is notexposed.

As shown in F163. 1 and 2, a mop head comprises a one piece wire frameIt) having a substantially rectangular overall shape with straight sideedges 12, 12 each terminating rearwardly in separate spaced back loopportions 14, 14. The wire frame is bent to form spaced front curvedportions 16, 16', the latter being connected by internal inwardlydirected portions 18, 18 to form a central transverse straight portion20. A handle connector 22 has a bent over portion 24 for pivotalconnection to portion 25) of frame 10 and a socket 26 for connection toa handle 23.

A substantially rectangular body member 30, having an aperture 32 in thetop surface thereof through which the handle connector 22 extends,envelops frame 10. A resilient cushion member 34, such as sheepskin withits natural wool face, is attached to the bottom surface of the bodymember 34 Advantageously, the resilient cushion member 34 is providedwith a free end 35 which extends rearward beyond the rear end 33 of thebody member 30 for the reasons to be explained later.

A soft mop cap member 4-0, best shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is snuglyfitted over the body member 30, the mop cap member being a rectangularglove or sack with closed sides 42, 42', a closed front edge 44 and anopen rear portion 46 so that the mop cap 40 can be positioned upon andremoved from the body member 30 to permit laundering as the mop capbecomes soiled. Mop cap 40 is somewhat longer than the bottom cushionmember 34 so as to keep the latter covered and clean as the mop is movedin sweeping backward and forward movements. In order to accommodate thehandle connector 22, the top surface of the mop cap 49 is slit to formadjacent longitudinal edges 48, 48' which extend from the open rearportion 46 to and around the handle connector 22. 7 Advantageously, thehandle connector 22 can have a notch 47 so that the spreading of thelongitudinal edges 48, 48' in the rear half of the mop cap can beminimized.

Mop cap it) is preferably fabricated from a one piece substantiallyrectangular finished edge fabric member having a base and a loopedcotton pile. Such material is generally known as toweling or terrycloth. However, other materials, including plastics, may be used.

Mop cap 41) is preferably fabricated by twice longitudinally folding theone piece fabric member to temporarily form a double open ended bagmember with two closed sides 42, 42'. The two longitudinal edges 48, 48'are brought together in over-lapping relationship and stitches 50 (seePEG. 2) spaced from the edges 48, 48 are made for a distance extendinglinearly from the front edge 44 of the mop cap 49 rearwardly towards theposition which usual cleaning drudgery. Also, has beenfound that will beoccupied by the handle connector 22, and in particular the notchedportion 4'7 thereof. The double open ended bag member so formed is thenclosed at the front edge by stitches 54 after the lineof stitches 50 iscentrall and longitudinally located along the top surface of the mop cap40. V I

Mopcap 40, is selectively 'dimensioned so that it fits rather snuglyover the body member 3% (and the frame toweling material or terry cloth,is a very effective dirt and dust pick-up medium'which far surpasses thecleaning power exhibited by the string type mop. The dirt and dustpick-up property of toweling or terry cloth mop caps is further improvedwhen aplurality of mop capsare interfitted in piggyback manner of FIG.4. It

member 10) and optionally in a manner to slightly comcap 40 as shown inFIG. 3, the longitudinal edges .48,

is believed that the slight relative motions of the plurality of the mopcaps 49, 6t), 7t) generate static electricity which improves the ,dirtand dust pickup effectiveness of the mop cap according to thisinvention.

While. there has been described 'andpointed out the fundamental novelfeatures of 'the invention as applied 48 rearward of the handleconnector 22 will tendto lie either veryclose to each other or inover-lapping relationship as 'aresult ofthe stitches 50 which providethat the sum of the lengths of the, two separate rear edges of the topsurface of mopcap 40 is greater than the length of front edgef44. 1 f

A particularly advantageous embodiment appears in FIG; 4 wherein apluralityof mop caps 69, 76 are'placed 'over mop cap 40 in interfittingor piggyback relationship. When each mop cap it 60, and 7% issubstantially identical in size and shape the outer mop cap 70.determines the maximum outside dimensions of the .mop head and theresilient cushion bottom member 34 can compress,

if necessary, to accommodate the material of the inner mop caps 60 and40 as well as 'a small'amount of folding thereof. 7 V I 7 7 Furniturewhich is encountered with forward sweeps of the mop head of FIG. 3 or 4is protected from marringby the bridged unsupported stretched length ofthe body member 39 and the mop cap 40 between the two front 1..Acleaning mop to preferred embodiments, it will be understoodthat variousomissions and substitutions and changes in the form 'anddetails ofthe'devices illustrated and its operation may be made by those skilledin the art, without departing from the spirit of the invention. Itis theintention, therefore,

to be limited only as indicatedby the scope of the following claims.What I claim is:

prising: a substantially rectangular resilient frame; a handle connectorpivotallyconnected to the central section of said frame, said handleconnectorbeing providedwith a socket in which a niop' handle is adaptedto be removably..'secured;. a rectangular fabric body member'whichtightly envelopes said frame, an aperture in the top wall of saidbody'member through which said handle. connector extends; a relativelythick soft fuzzy resilient cushion member secured tothe bottom wall ofsaid body member,

said cushion member being provided with a free. end which extendsrearwardly a substantial:distancebeyond the rear end of said bodymember; an enveloping bag-shaped cap member'whichis removably disposedabout said body member and the said free end of said cushion member,

loops 16, 16, the wire frame receding therefrom to form a soft notch. Onsweeping backward motions, furniture is protected from being ,fmarkedlasa result of the rearward over-hang of the resilient cushion member 3beyond the two rear loops 1 14, the latter being spaced.

to also form a rear soft notch. Further, as furniture is encountered,the rearward over jhan'g portion will swing upwardly to completelycushion the wire portions 14, 14'.

Furniture is protected from the side wire portions l z, 12' as a resultof the springiness of such long'straight'side portions enhanced by thelack of a complete back edge as a consequence of V the spaced rear loops14, 14'. :Added springiness to the side wire elements 12, 12 areprovided by the rounded shape of the front wire loops 16, 16. Op-itionally, a thick soft material for mop cap 40 will' oifer.

additional protection to prevent marringof furniture.

As the bottom surface of the troop cap 46 becomes f soiled, it caneasily be removed and laundered. Shrinkthe rear end of said capmemberbeing open andthe top wall thereof having alongitudinal. slit whichextends.

from the rear end thereo fto substantially the mid-section thereof to.permit the application of said cap member. to said body member and theremoval thereof from. said body member, 3 y 2. A cleaning mop ofthecharacter described comprising: a substantially rectangular resilientframe formed.

from a single length of spring wire and comprising a "pair oflongitudinally extending spaced parallel side sections, the rear end ofeach of said sidesections being formedintoa loop, the forward ends ofsaid side sections age of the'mop cap material will not be seriouslyvdisa'dvantageous since the resilient cushion bottom surface 34* canaccommodate changing dimensions.

When a plurality of mop caps areemployeionly the bottom surface of theexterior cap will become soiled with use of the mop- As the external mopcap becomes dirty,

it can be peeled off for laundering and the next innermost mop cap isready for cleaning immediately.

dering the dirty mop cap, the'rearward half of the exterior mop cap,shown as in FIG. 5,; can be foldedback over the front half. When this isdone, the entiredii ty bot-v tom surface of the exterior mop cap '78 isfolded into itself and no part of the'dirty bottom surface is exposed toview.

The mop caps, particularly when fabricated from toweling material orterry cloth can be made very attractive by employing colors and patternsso' as to brighten up the cleaning chore and relieve the housewife fromthe beingbent inwardly into semi-circular sectionsand connected to apair of spaced 're-entr ant sections which iterminate substantiallymid-way between the said'loops and said semi-circular sectionsand areconnected together by a transverse sectiom a handle connector pivotallyconnected-to said transverse section, said handle connector beingprovided with a socket-in which'a'mop handle is adapted to be removablysecured; .a rectangular fabric body member which tightly envelopessaidframe, anaperture'in the top wallof saidbody member through which saidhandle-connector extends; a relatively thick soft fuzzy resilientcushion'mernber. secured to thebottom wall of said body member, saidcushion memberbeing provided with a free end which'extends rearwardly issubstantial distancebeyond the rear end of said body mem When theexterior mop cap is only partially dirty so that itbe co m'es convenientto store themop wlthout launher; an enveloping bag-shaped cap memberwhich 'is re- 1novably disposed about said bodysmember and the said freeend'of said cushion member, the rear end of said cap' member being openand the'topfwall thereof having 7 -applieation of said cap member tosaid body member and alongitudinal slit which extends from the rear endtherethe removal thereof from said bodymember.

3. A cleaning mop as defined by claim 1 in which the open rear end ofsaid cap member is spaced. rearwardly from the free end of said cushionmember.

4. A cleaning mop as defined by claim 1 in whichsaid of the. characterdescribed com 5 6 cap member is dimensioned to compress said resilient2,669,741 2/54 Jelliife 15-41292 cushion member. 2,690,661 10/54 Briggs15--229.1 XR 5. A cleaning mop as defined by claim 1 in which said2,815,521 12/57 Winckler 15247 XR cap member is fabricated from terrycloth. 2,831,207 4/58 Thompson et a1. 15-228 6. A cleaning mop asdefined by claim 5 in which said 5 3,166,775 1/65 Cushman 15228 cushionmember is fabricated from sheepskin.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,186,960 6/16Wells. 10 DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner.

1,313,184 8/19 Hayden 15-229.1 2,431,502 11/47 Podolak 15-2292 CHARLESA. WILLMUTH, Examiner,

FOREIGN PATENTS 731,569 5/32 France.

1. A CLEANING MOP OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED COMPRISING: A SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR RESILENT FRAME; A HANDLE CONNECTOR PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE CENTRAL SECTION OF SAID FRAME, SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR BEING PROVIDED WITH A SOCKET IN WHICH A MOP HANDLE IS ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY SECURED; A RECTANGULAR FABRIC BODY MEMBER WHICH TIGHTLY ENVELOPES SAID FRAME, AN APERTURE IN THE TOP WALL OF SAID BODY MEMBER THROUGH WHICH SAID HANDLE CONNECTOR EXTENDS; A RELATIVELY THICK SOFT FUZZY RESILIENT CUSHION MEMBER SECURED TO THE BOTTOM WALL OF SAID BODY MEMBER, SAID CUSHION MEMBER BEING PROVIDED WITH A FREE END WHICH EXTENDS REARWARDLY A SUBSTANTIAL DISTANCE BEYOND THE REAR END OF SAID BODY MEMBER; AN ENVELOPING BAG-SHAPED CAP MEMBER WHICH IS REMOVABLY DISPOSED ABOUT SAID BODY MEMBER AND THE SAID FREE END OF SAID CUSHION MEMBER, THE REAR END OF SAID CAP MEMBER BEING OPEN AND THE TOP WALL THEREOF HAVING LONGITUDINAL SLIT WHICH EXTENDS FROM THE REAR EMD THEREOF TO SUBSTANTIALLY THE MID-SECTION THEREOF TO PERMIT THE APPLICATON OF SAID CAP MEMBER TO SAID BODY MEMBER AND THE REMOVAL THEREOF FROM SAID BODY MEMBER. 